SEMINOLE STATE COLLEGE PLANS ‘BIGGER AND BETTER’ SPACE WEEK EVENTS FOR 2018

SANFORD, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2018) – Seminole State College of Florida, home to the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium, will showcase the planetarium’s capabilities and the far-reaching impacts of space exploration during Space Week 2018. The weeklong celebration, which begins Jan. 19, is sponsored by CFE Federal Credit Union and culminates in the Winter Sky Festival, the largest astronomy-themed event held annually in Florida. With the exception of the laser shows, all events are free and open to the public.

“‘Space Week is about connecting our community to the cosmos,” said Michael McConville, coordinator of the Buehler Planetarium at Seminole State. “This year’s Space Week is bigger and better than ever, with a focus on engaging events that can inspire our visitors, regardless of their age or background. Astronomy really is for everyone, and we want to do our part to facilitate that fact as much as possible.”

Details of all Space Week 2018 events are included below.

· Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20 – Space Week 2018 opens with the planetarium's hugely popular laser shows. Guests can expect an octet of fantastic laser displays cutting across genres and decades. There will be four laser shows each evening at 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. The cost to attend is $10 for adults, $8 for students and adults 55+, and $5 for Seminole State students, staff and faculty with ID.

· Monday, Jan. 22 –Visit Seminole State’s Sanford/Lake Mary Campus for Solar Observing on the South Terrace of the new Student Center (building SC) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Planetarium representatives will set up three telescopes for solar viewing and will hold several giveaways for free laser show tickets.

· Tuesday, Jan. 23 – Day two of Solar Observing will be at Seminole State’s Altamonte Springs Campus on the front sidewalks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. At this event, planetarium representatives will also set up several telescopes for solar viewing and will hold several giveaways for free laser show tickets.

· Tuesday, Jan. 23 – Moderated by digital journalist Emilee Speck, The Space Times: Women in STEM will feature prominent space journalists and astronomers, including Loren Grush, space reporter for The Verge and Hibah Rahmani, avionics and flights engineer at NASA. Panelists will provide perspective on the current environment for women in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Concert Hall (building G on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus). The event will also be livestreamed online.

· Tuesday, Jan. 23, Wednesday, Jan. 24, and Thursday, Jan. 25 – Laser shows continue at the Buehler Planetarium during Space Week 2018. With show themes particularly chosen for children, there will be two after school matinees each day. Prices are $6 for adults, $4 for children ages 3 -17, and free for children under 3. For more information, including specific times of each show, please visit the After School Laser Matinee webpage.

· Wednesday, Jan. 24–Join representatives from the Buehler Planetarium as they host featured lecturer Nicole Stott for Cosmic Conversations. Stott is an artist and veteran astronaut at NASA, with two spaceflights, one spacewalk and 104 days living and working in space as a crew member on both the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS). Cosmic Conversations will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall (building G on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus). This event will also belivestreamedonline.

· Thursday, Jan. 25 –Visit Seminole State’s Oviedo Campus for Telescope Thursdays between buildings E and F from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Buehler Planetarium representatives will set up several telescopes for solar viewing at the first-ever Oviedo Star Party.

· Friday, Jan. 26 – Seminole State will host another weekend of laser light shows at the Buehler Planetarium. There will be four shows on Friday evening (7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m.). Prices are $10 for adults, $8 for students and adults 55+, and $5 for Seminole State students, staff and faculty with ID.

· Saturday, Jan. 27 – Space Week 2018 concludes with the Winter Sky Festival, the largest astronomy-themed event in Florida. With an expected attendance of at least 4,000, the festival includes talks and demonstrations, two dozen telescopes, laser shows and food trucks. The event takes place from 5 to 11p.m. For updates on the Winter Sky Festival, follow #WSF on social media.

Located on Seminole State’s Sanford/Lake Mary Campus, the Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust Planetarium at Seminole State College of Florida offers live, interactive shows and full-dome video presentations. For more information on the Buehler Planetarium and upcoming Space Week 2018 events, visitseminolestate.edu/planet, like us onFacebookand follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @seminoleplanet.